Short-handed for its North Coast Section Division III first-round contest, the Novato High girls basketball team needed somebody to step up and fill the void. Missing four players, including two starters for undisclosed reasons, Janea Early took matters into her own hands.

Early netted 15 of her career-high 33 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers and the No. 6 Hornets doubled up the No. 11 Sonoma Valley 20-10 in the final eight minutes to secure a 56-45 victory on Tuesday.

"She made up the difference for the girls that were missing, the starters," Novato coach Pete Knight said. "She took a lot of that responsibility on."

Novato (19-10) will travel to Moraga on Friday to take on No. 3 Campolindo, who had a bye into the quarterfinals.

"I wanted to continue playing, especially for our seniors that are coming back, I wanted to play with them at least one more time," said Early, who also grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out four assists. "We got to win it, so put it up a notch."

Trailing by two points, Early bottomed her first three to help Novato regain the lead 44-43. Maddie Tomsky got a bucket in the post and then Early drilled two more 3-pointers and Novato upped its lead to 53-45. On the defensive end, the Hornets held Sonoma Valley without a basket for the final 4 minutes of the game.

"Way too much Janea in the fourth quarter, I heard she had 33, that's the most anybody has ever scored on us," Sonoma Valley coach Sil Coccia said. "We knew it coming in, we keyed on her, but she was a load. Inside, outside, she did everything."

With just eight players suited up, the Novato team collectively had to pick up the slack. For three quarters, it was nip and tuck. The Dragons (15-13) took a 24-23 lead into the locker room for intermission and Novato led 36-35 after three. Forced into a starting role, Avery Knight scored seven points, adding five rebounds and Tomsky added nine points, six boards and six blocks off the bench. Danielle Bosley scored five points, including a 3-pointer and Annalise Dowd added a pair of steals and a couple rebounds.

"I thought Annalise, she had some steals and some rebounds, Avery had some good shots," Tomsky said. "Everyone kind of stepped up and did their job."

Sonoma Valley was led by Mackenzie Albrecht with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Ashley Vail chipped in 11 points off the bench for the Dragons.

With starters Taylor Missin and Erin Nannery returning to the lineup on Friday, the Hornets contend that they can be even better.

"I feel like if we carry the tempo of how we were playing tonight and add in the other players we will be hard to stop," Early said.

"With two top scorers coming back, Campolindo, they're a good team, but I definitely think we can give them a run for their money," Tomsky added.